Cubs continue fun on the road, beat Reds, 4-0

Sunday

Sep 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2007 at 3:29 AM

The Cubs hazed their rookies after the game, making them walk from the park to their downtown hotel in silly getups. Felix Pie was dressed in pink baby pajamas, while Carmen Pignatiello (Supergirl), Sam Fuld (Batgirl) and Kevin Hart (Wonder Woman) formed a trio of heroes -- or heroines -- roaming the city streets.

Jeff Vorva

Late Friday night, there was a champagne party after the Cubs clinched the National League Central.

Late Saturday afternoon, there was a costume party after a North Siders lineup filled with rookies and seldom-used vets beat Cincinnati 4-0 in front of a Great American Ball Park crowd of 38,936.

The Cubs hazed their rookies after the game, making them walk from the park to their downtown hotel in silly getups. Felix Pie was dressed in pink baby pajamas, while Carmen Pignatiello (Supergirl), Sam Fuld (Batgirl) and Kevin Hart (Wonder Woman) formed a trio of heroes -- or heroines -- roaming the city streets.

Rich Hill, who had fresh memories of being hazed both in 2005 and 2006, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings before former Cub Buck Coats hit a double to break it up.

“I went through the Cubs system with him, so if I had to give it up to anyone, it might as well have been Buck,” Hill said.

That was the only hit the Reds got in the game.

Matt Murton homered and Geovany Soto had three hits, including two doubles, for the North Siders (85-76).

Hill was the announced starter, but rookie Sean Gallagher was named as the starter on the posted lineup card with the idea of Hill coming into the game in relief. The Cubs, however, changed their mind again and Hill started and shined.

Don’t expect that to be the starting lineup Wednesday, when the Cubs are scheduled to open National League Division Series play. The Cubs still don’t know who they will play. The three possibilities are Arizona, Philadelphia or the New York Mets.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella hinted that a couple of September callups -- possibly Soto and relief pitcher Hart -- could be on the playoff roster.

“Yeah, there are a few kids. When you see our roster you’ll see some young kids,” Piniella said. “They will be rewarded.”

There isn’t much more Piniella would reveal about the playoff roster. He said Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly will start the first two games on the road Wednesday and Thursday, and Rich Hill will get the call Saturday at Wrigley Field in Game 3.

If there is a Game 4, Jason Marquis, who hasn’t pitched since Wednesday, could get the call next Sunday, but Piniella left the door open that the Cubs could go with a three-man rotation.

Backup outfielder-first baseman Daryle Ward, who is nursing a sprained left thumb, could be left off the roster if he is not feeling better by Tuesday.

“We’ll try to give him an at-bat (today) and see how he feels,” Piniella said. “(Friday) he felt he could go and he hit a lot in the cage but came back with some pretty good swelling.”

The preliminary plan is for the Cubs to go with 11 pitchers in the postseason. Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Ryan Dempster, Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol, Michael Weurtz, Kerry Wood and Scott Eyre appear to be locks. Hart, Sean Marshall and Will Ohman will likely fight for the last spot.

Of the 14 position player spots available, Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, Ryan Theriot, Aramis Ramirez, Jason Kendall, Alfonso Soriano, Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Soto and Murton appear to be on solid ground. Infielders Cedeno and Fontenot could be on the roster. Outfielders Pie, Craig Monroe and Ward could battle it out for the final two spots.

Many of the starters will play in today's regular-season finale for at least a part of the game.

Left-hander Lilly will start today but get just two or three innings of work to tune up for Thursday.